Stockton to host first forum on growth plan

STOCKTON - A process intended to steer Stockton's growth for years to come will begin tonight at City Hall, with city officials asking community members to share ideas and brainstorm over creation of a guiding plan for the city's future.

What: Public workshop on the city's General Plan 2035 focusing on neighborhoods and communities

When: Today, 6 p.m.

Where: City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado St., Stockton

» Social News

STOCKTON - A process intended to steer Stockton's growth for years to come will begin tonight at City Hall, with city officials asking community members to share ideas and brainstorm over creation of a guiding plan for the city's future.

Tonight's gathering will be the first in a series of public workshops as officials work to amend Stockton's General Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in 2007.

The workshops will be held at special meetings of the Stockton Planning Commission on the fourth Thursday each month for the rest of 2014, said Steve Chase, the city's director of community development.

Though much past discussion over the General Plan has centered on the differing views of slow-growth advocates and real estate developers, Chase said he is hoping the workshops will provide a forum for everyday citizens. Officials especially are looking for ideas to spur struggling downtown Stockton and the city's long-neglected south side.

"Let's take care of what we have already as a priority," Chase said. "Can we for heaven's sakes invest and take better care of what already exists while at the same time planning for the future?"

Moving the focus away from outlying areas represents a shift from the approach that was prevalent at City Hall in 2007, when the existing General Plan was adopted amid economic optimism and predictions of booming growth that soon proved to be misguided.

That shift was encapsulated late last year by a Planning Commission vote halting the proposed new Bear Creek East housing development at Eight Mile Road and Highway 99. Developers at first appealed to the full City Council; later they withdrew their appeal and said they would put their plans on ice for up to 24 months before renewing their efforts.

During the course of the Bear Creek East debate, Chase suggested at one point the proposed development was "a relic from a bygone era." Heading into tonight's workshop, Chase indicated his opinion has not changed.

"What about putting jobs where people live?" he asked. "Instead of a sea of new housing up by Eight Mile, let's have a discussion about putting in job campuses out there, in addition to housing, so there are options to running up to Sacramento each day (for work) or running across town to the ACE station.

"If we start respecting the neighborhoods we have, we may actually create some job opportunities that are close by."

Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or rphillips@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/phillipsblog and on Twitter @rphillipsblog.